Arts Center Architects Request Fee Hike

The architects of the Broward Performing Arts Center on Tuesday asked for a $1.2 million fee increase for extra work caused by project changes and delays.

The request, made at a meeting of the center`s board, is for about $400,000 more than the architects said they would seek when they notified the board of overtime and cost overruns earlier this summer.

The request also follows a $220,000 fee increase that the board approved 15 months ago for extra work done up to that time.

If approved, the new increase would bring Benjamin Thompson Associates` total fee to more than $4 million for the two-theater project.

The center`s board members will conduct at least one more meeting with its attorneys before negotiating a settlement.

Herbert Gallagher, an executive with Benjamin Thompson, said many costs were incurred as a result of the board`s desire to redesign the building into a first-class cultural complex.

The project grew from $22 million in 1984 to $29.1 million in 1985, when the board signed the contract.

Since then, costs have grown to $36 million for construction of a larger complex than anticipated. The project is a year behind scheduled.